surprise attack

Synonyms:

coup de main

Examples:

September 11

the day in 2001 when Arab suicide bombers hijacked United States airliners and used them as bombs

Types:

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terrorist attack

a surprise attack involving the deliberate use of violence against civilians in the hope of attaining political or religious aims

ambuscade, ambush, lying in wait, trap

the act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise

pre-emptive strike

a surprise attack that is launched in order to prevent the enemy from doing it to you

dry-gulching

the act of killing from ambush

Type of:

attack, onrush, onset, onslaught

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)